Letter: We should consider more than the elephants

This letter is prompted by the many recent letters to The Standard-Times discussing the two elephants at Buttonwood Park Zoo.

Seemingly forgotten are the conditions of other animals at the zoo, such as a cougar and a bear. Unless someone can explain to us (and us "accepting" the explanation) why we are wrong, we will assume that these two animals (which are the examples which were using, and there may be others) are imprisoned for the sake of "entertainment" and fundraising.

In no way can the limited space which they have to live in be "natural." That, to us, seems quite needlessly cruel; every bit as much as the plight of the elephants. We don't know whether, at this stage of their lives, transferring the two elephants to a sanctuary is the best for them or not, so we're out of that fray. It does seem logical though, that the elephants are also living in an unnatural space constraint. We don't think that anyone can mount a credible counter to that conclusion.

Regarding the aforementioned cougar and bear: Are they locked in such small areas because they too are "too old to go back home," or to a "sanctuary" (if they exist)?

We feel that a zoo is perfectly OK, as long as the "exhibited animals" are living in natural conditions, including proper space, and their social needs are met, assuming that criteria can be met for any animal.

For the sake of full disclosure, both of us include meat in our respective diets and both have visited the zoo previously, however, "personal evolution" would prevent us, possibly, from doing so again.